Altidore, Donovan and Howard: 2009 Honda POY Award finalists

Read about it in this press release:2009 HONDA PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD FINALISTSWinner to be announced on October 20th in Los Angeles, California.
LOS ANGELES (September 30, 2009) – Jozy Altidore, Landon Donovan and
Tim Howard have been selected by 221 sports journalists from across the nation as the three finalists for the 2009 Honda Player of the Year Award, widely recognized as the most prestigious award a U.S. National Team player can receive.
The winner will be announced during the special award luncheon celebrating the 19th Honda Player of the Year Award on Tuesday, October 20 at The Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The award luncheon is open to all media and will begin at 11:30 a.m. The winner will receive a new Honda automobile.
Jozy Altidore (19) is a first-time finalist for the Honda Player of the Year Award. At just 18, he became the youngest player to score for the United States during a 2-2 draw against Mexico in 2008. On April 1 2009, he also became the youngest U.S. player to record a hat trick when the U.S. won 3-0 in the World Cup qualifying match against
Trinidad & Tobago. Altidore has scored 8 goals in 19 caps* since his debut with the National Team in 2007. Altidore started his professional career in 2006 with the New York Red Bulls and in 2008, he was transferred to Spain’s First Division team, Villarreal.
Currently he plays with the English Premier League Team, Hull City, on loan from Villarreal.
Landon Donovan (27), five-time winner of the Honda Player of the Year Award, is the only player to be a finalist seven times. Donovan is the all-time goalscorer for the U.S. National Team having in his career a total of 41 goals during his 118 games*. Donovan began his professional career with the San Jose Earthquakes in 2001 and has
played for Bayer Leverkusen in Germany. Since 2005, he has played
with his current team, the Los Angeles Galaxy. He spent three months on loan with the German team, Bayer Munich.
Tim Howard (30) is a finalist for the Honda Player of the Year Award for the third year in a row. Howard has had an impressive performance with the U.S. National Team. This year at the 2009 Confederations Cup, he received the Golden Glove award in recognition as the best goalkeeper of the tournament. He has achieved 46* appearances with the National Team since his debut in 2002, and is now Bob Bradley’s
number one pick for any major competition. Howard began his professional career in 1998 with the New York MetroStars before transferring to England’s club, Manchester United. In 2007, Howard moved to his current club, Everton of the English Premier League.
*As of 9/30/09
The previous winners of the Honda Player of the Year Award are:
Landon Donovan (2008, 2007, 2004, 2003 and 2002), Clint Dempsey
(2006), Kasey Keller (2005, 1999), Earnie Stewart (2001), Claudio
Reyna (2000), Cobi Jones (1998), Eddie Pope (1997), Eric Wynalda
(1996, 1992), Alexi Lalas (1995), Marcelo Balboa (1994), Thomas
Dooley (1993) and Hugo Perez (1991). In 2000, Eric Wynalda was named
the Honda Player of the Decade.